Analysis of Maggie in Every Day Use
...nist of the story. The reader sympathizes with Maggie. Whether in beauty, life, or education, Maggie has always come second to her flamboyant and excessive sister Dee. Maggie’s character is even more admirable because she accepts her simple and seemingly insignificant role in society without complaint. Although she was never sent away to college, disfigured in a house fire, and continually belittled by her condescending sister, Maggie hates neither life nor Dee. As demonstrated by the conflict of the quilts, she continually plays the part of the more mature individual. When the mother moved “up to touch the quilts, Dee moved back just enough so that [mother] couldn't reach [them]” (Walker np). However, Maggie does not become angry or wish for her mother to grab the quilts out of Dee’s undeserving hands; instead, she squeaks from the protection of the door, “"She can have them, Mama,” (Walker np) like someone who is accustomed to never winning anything. Maggie realizes that she doesn’t need those quilts as she affirms “I can ‘member Grandma Dee without the quilts” (Walker np). Maggie’s benevolence immediately wins pity from the reader by demonstrating the blatant selfishness of...